Fluid catcher mechanism



July Z, 1966 E. E. METZGER 3,262,468

FLUID CATCHER MECHANISM Filed Dec. 5, 1963 INVENTOR Ema E. METZGER ATTORNEYS 3,262,468 FLUID CATCHER MECHANISM Eric E. Metzger, Silver Spring, Md., assignor t Bowles Engineering Corporation, Silver Spring, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Dec. 5, 196 3, Ser. No. 328,213 15 Claims. (Cl. 137-802) The present invention relates to fluid catcher structures and, more particularly, to a fluid catcher structure for receiving a high-velocity, well-defined stream of fluid, breaking the stream up into lower-velocity, diffused flow, and directing the diffused flow back over the incoming stream so as to form a curtain in front of the catcher mechanism to absorb some of the energy of the incoming stream and to prevent fluid splashing back out of the structure due to impact of the high-velocity, incoming stream with the catcher structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a catcher structure in which a high-velocity fluid stream is introduced into an elongated chamber having a crosssection with a smooth continuous curve, circular, elliptical, etc., the stream being introduced generally tangentially to the interior of the chamber so that the fluid is rotated through an angle greater than 180 and is discharged across the incoming stream to form a curtain across the entry to the catcher to absorb some of the energy of the stream and to prevent splashing of fluid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a catcher structure comprising an elongated cylinder in which the fluid is introducedtangentially to an inner circumference of the catcher and employing a screen formed of heavy mesh wire to break up the incoming stream both upon ingress to and egress from the catcher structure so that fluid is discharged in the form of a curtain of liquid across the incoming jet to prevent splashing of liquid due to impact of the high velocity stream against the catcher mechanism.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid catcher structure which receives incoming fluid tangentially to a curved member which turns the stream through such an angle as to direct the fluid across the path of the incoming fluid, the curve of the curved member being a smooth continuous curve so as to minimize the energy dissipation in the catcher thereby minimizing impact loading on the catcher structure directly and maximizing dissipation of energy in the incoming stream due to interaction between the fluids.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of several specific embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a front view in elevation of the second embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a top view of a further embodiment of the invention to be employed where relative movement,

atent "ice both translatory and rotational, between the stream and catcher are anticipated.

Referring specifically to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a high-velocity stream of fluid generally designated by the reference numeral 1 enters a generally three-quarter cylindrical member or chamber 2 tangentially of a lower, innermost surface of the catcher. A screen 3 is placed near the entry to the cylindrical member 2 but interiorly thereof, the screen 3 being formed with relatively large openings but fabricated from heavy mesh or large diameter wires. The stream 1, upon initially contacting the wire screen 3, is diffused generally as indicated by the arrows bearing the reference numeral 4. The fluid, after passing through the screen 3, is rotated through an angle greater than and preferably in the range between 225 to 270 as a result of the shape of the interior of the cylindrical member 2.

The fluid, just before egressing from the chamber 2, passes back through the screen 3. The fluid, in passing through the screen 3, is further diffused, as indicated by the arrows bearing the reference numeral 6, so that the fluid is sufficiently dispersed to form a continuous stream across the entire entrance to the chamber 2. This fluid pattern is generally indicated by the arrows bearing the reference numeral 7. The fluid, which as previously indicated, has been directed through an angle of approximately 240, is now flowing generally downwardly and at right angles to the incoming stream 1. The stream is directed through an aperture 8 formed in a lower entry wall 9 of the catcher structure. This fluid, indicated by, the arrows bearing reference numeral 7, forms a screen of fluid across the entire entry way into the chamber 2 so that any fluid which tends to splash out of the catcher due to impact between the high velocity stream 1, the screen 3, or any interior parts of the chamber 2 is entrained by the screen of fluid and is carried down through the opening 8 into a receptacle 11. Thus, the apparatus prevents any splashback from the catcher structure and, at the same time, greatly reduces the velocity of the fluid which is directed to the receptacle or tank 11. Further, the passage of the stream 1 through the curtain of fluid indicated by the arrows bearing reference numerals 7 loses some of is energy which further enhances the transfer process being effected.

The latter feature of the invention is quite important since, by absorbing some of the energy of the incoming stream before it impacts against the structure, loading and vibration may be reduced. The advantages stemming from this feature may be more fully realized when one considers that the catcher mechanism is intended to handle high-velocity streams of 200 to 500 pounds per square inch dynamic pressure and with fluid transfer rates as high as 500,000 gallons of liquid an hour. In order to maximize the dissipation of the energy of the incoming stream and to minimize impact loading, the amount of energy of the incoming stream dissipated in the chamber 2 must be minimized. This is accomplished by forming the interior of the chamber 2 with a continuous, smooth curve and bringing the stream in tangentially thereto.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 3 and 4, there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention in which the fluid does not flow directly to a receptacle 11 but is accumulated in a further chamber and then falls by gravity flow into the tank. In this embodiment of the invention, the chamber 1 is rotated so that its rectangular entry passage has its major dimension in the vertical plane, FIGURE 3 presenting a top view of the apparatus and FIGURE 4 illustrating a front view in'elevation. The fluid egressing from the chamber 2, again being designated by the reference numeral 7, is directed through the aperture 8 in the base plate 9 into a further chamber 12, the fluid impinging against a side plate 13 forming one of the Walls of the chamber 12. The fluid impinges against the wall 13 and drops into the bottom of the chamber and out through a pipe 14 from whence it is directed to the storage tank 11. In this manner, substantially all of the initial energy of the stream 1 is dissipated prior to entry of the fluid into the storage tank 11. This may be desirable in some instances, particularly to lessen any tendency of the fluid to splash upon entering the storage member.

It will be noted that the port 8 is centrally located along the tangential plane to the inner surface of the chamber 2 at the point of egress of the fluid from the chamber so that the fluid flows directly to the passage 8 upon exiting from the chamber.

In some applications of the-catcher mechanism of the present invention, relative movements between the incoming stream and the catcher apparatus may be expected. An extreme situation is illustrated in FIGURE of the accompanying drawings wherein an incoming stream 16 enters a catcher apparatus 17 near one end thereof and is rotated relative to the catcher so that the stream is directed toward an end wall 18 of the catcher.

In order to accommodate the above situation, the sidewall 18 and opposite sidewall 19 diverge outwardly and enter a curved chamber 21 tangentially to curved end walls 22 and 23, respectively. The fluid upon entering chamber 21 is partially broken up by -a screen 24. ThaLportion of the fluid which does not contactend wall 22 is treated as before. That portion which does encounter curved end wall 22 is turned back into the chamber being at least partially directed toward wall 23. It has'been found that with this arrangement, a curtain is formed across substantially the entire entrance to the chamber 21 even under the extreme condition illustrated.

While I have described and illustrated several specific embodiments of my invention, it will be clear that variations of the details of construction which are specifically illustrated and described may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A fluid catcher structure comprising an entry passage for a well-defined stream of fluid, a fluid receiving region, and means .for diverting the fluid in said stream through a single closed path, the tangents to the initial and terminal portions of which intersect one another so that the diverted fluid is directed across said stream, and impacts against said stream, said fluid receiving region lying along the tangent to said terminal portion of said path and located on a side of the tangent to the initial portion of said path opposite to the side thereof on which said closed path is formed.

2. A fluid catcher comprising an entry passage for a well-defined stream of fluid, a fluid receiving region, a first means for diverting the fluid in said stream through a continuous curve of greater than 180 so that said diverted fluid is directed across said stream to said fluid receiving region, and a second means located in said first means for diffusing said well-defined stream of fluid, said fluid receiving region lying on a side of the axis of the stream opposite to said first means.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said second means comprises a wide-mesh screen of large crossscction wires.

4. A fluid catcher comprising an elongated chamber having a concave cross-sectional configuration of greater than a well-defined fluid stream directed into said chamber generally tangentially to the curve of said crosssection, a fluid receiving region located on a side of said stream opposite from the location at which fluid egresses from said chamber, said fl-uid receiving region being located generally along the tangent to the interior of said chamber at the point of which fluid egresses therefrom, and means located upstream of said fluid receiving region for diffusing said well-defined stream of fluid.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said means comprises a generally planar, mesh screen lying upstream of said fluid receiving region and extending into contact with all walls of said chamber.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said cross-section is curved through an angle of between 215 and 270.

7. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said chamber has end walls, said end walls each providing a continuous three-dimensional concave curve.

8. A fluid catcher structure comprising an entry opening for receiving a well-defined stream of fluid, a fluid receiving region and means for directing the fluid flowing through said opening to said fluid receiving region, said means including a structural member having a hollow concave surface for turning the stream through a single complete turn and forming the stream into a thin sheet of fluid, the initial are of the concave surface being directed away from said means for receiving and a tangent to the terminal are of the concave surface intersecting the axis of the stream, said means for receiving lying along said tangent and being disposed on a side of the stream opposite to the terminal arc of said concave surface.

9. A fluid catcher structure corn-prising an entry opening for receiving a well-defined stream of fluid, a fluid receiving region and means located on a side of the axis of the stream opposite to the side on which said fluid receiving region is located for directing fluid flowing through the opening to said fluid receiving region, said means including a hollow concave member having initial and terminal arcuate surfaces, said initial arcuate surface being directed away from said fluid receiving region, a tangent to said terminal arcuate surface intersecting the axis of the stream, said fluid receiving region being disposed generally along said tangent.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein said means includes further means for spreading the fluid of the stream in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the stream and generally parallel to the longitudinal dimension of said arcuate member.

11. In a system for controlling flow of fluid from a nozzle to a receiver, means for enforcing an arcuate path on said fluid, said arcuate path extending over less than 360 and having a downstream portion of said path intersecting and crossing an upstream portion of said path, said means being located intermediate said nozzle and said receiver.

12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein said means effectively terminates both upstream and downstream of the location of the intersection of said downstream and upstream portion of said path, whereby said interaction occurs in free space, and wherein said receiver is located downstream of said intersection.

13. In a system for controlling flow of fluid from a nozzle to a receiver, solid body means for enforcing only one re-entrant circuit on said flow offluid, said body extending arcuately over less than 360 along said path and having an upstream boundary and a downstream boundary located in succession in the direction of flow of said fluid, said reentrant path including an intersection of a downstream portion of said flow of fluid with an upstream portion of said flow of fluid, said receiver being located downstream of said intersection and said nozzle being located upstream of said intersection.

to. in a system in which a fluid stream, whose path aries in two dimensions relative to its nominal axis, is to e directed to a fluid receiving region having an entry hereto lying along a path at an angle to the nominal path it the stream and in which the fluid of the stream is to be edirected across the stream. to form a fluid curtain to rrevent splashing of the fluid into areas adjacent the fluid 'eceiving region, a fluid catcher structure having a fluid eceiving region, an opening for receiving the stream of luid, said structure dispensing fluid through said openng along a straight line path toward said fluid receiving 'egion and means for enforcing upon fluid passing through mid opening an areuate path such that fluid entering said opening egresses from said means through said opening at in angle '10 and intersecting the stream.

15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein said opening is of sufficient dimensions in the two directions in which the stream moves to accept the fluid of the stream as it moves relative to its nominal position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES lA' El'itS 1,631,381 6/ 1927 Nelson 239-468 2,469,825 5/ 1949 Hornstein 239-468 2,521,238 9/1950 McCann 238-542 3,081,946 3/1963 Solotf 239-402 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner. EVERETT W. KIRBY, Examiner. SAMUEL SCOTT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FLUID CATCHER STRUCTURE COMPRISING AN ENTRY PASSAGE FOR A WELL-DEFINED STREAM OF FLUID, A FLUID RECEIVING REGION, AND MEANS FOR DIVERTING THE FLUID IN SAID STREAM THROUGH A SINGLE CLOSED PATH, THE TANGENTS TO THE INITIAL AND TERMINAL PORTIONS OF WHICH INTERSECT ONE ANOTHER SO THAT THE DIVERTED FLUID IS DIRECTED ACROSS SAID STREAM, AND IMPACTS AGAINST SAID STREAM, SAID FLUID RECEIVING REGION LYING ALONG THE TANGENT TO SAID TERMINAL PORTION OF SAID PATH AND LOCATED ON A SIDE OF THE TANGENT TO THE INITIAL PORTION OF SAID PATH OPPOSITE TO THE SIDE THEREOF ON WHICH SAID CLOSED PATH IS FORMED. 